Neil deGrasse Tyson shares deepfake video to warn of AI dangers
Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson intentionally created and shared an AI deepfake video showing himself claiming the Earth is flat, then revealed it as fake to demonstrate the dangers of synthetic media technology to online audiences.
What happened
Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson published a YouTube video titled 'It's Getting Harder To Know What's Real' in which a deepfake shows him claiming that after recent calculations and satellite data review, 'the earth might actually be flat'.
The video then reveals the deepfake by showing the real deGrasse Tyson holding a phone displaying the fake video, stating 'that was not me' and 'those were not my words'.
deGrasse Tyson used the demonstration to explain how deepfakes can be problematic when viewers are unaware they are fake, saying they 'cross the line' in such cases.
Reported impact
The video illustrated the capability and realism of current deepfake technology to create convincing fake audio and video of public figures.
Index analysis
The deepfake successfully mimicked deGrasse Tyson's appearance and voice well enough to be initially convincing, demonstrating how quickly synthetic media technology is advancing.
Governance controls
deGrasse Tyson's disclosure and framing of the deepfake as a warning addressed the risk by making the false nature of the content explicit to viewers.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
This record was researched and written by the Index from original reporting. Its sources are still being verified by an editor, and they are listed here once that check is complete. Until then the record carries no reviewer.